Regents Approve First Phase of Parking Development Project Along Broadway

April 3, 2009 – The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents today approved the conceptual design and budget for the first phase of a parking development project along Broadway at the intersections at Henderson and at Pacific.

The Regents approved a parking master plan developed by SWT Design that will add 265 new parking spaces at Broadway and Pacific when fully implemented.

The first phase of the plans calls for demolishing three structures on the south side of Broadway at Henderson Street, grading and paving of this area as a parking lot for the new residence hall under construction on the northeast corner of this intersection, and installing lighting and security cameras. This new lot would provide 134 new parking spaces. Kathy Mangels, vice president for finance and administration, says the University is in discussions with the City of Cape Girardeau on installation of a signalized pedestrian crossing or stoplight at this site.

Construction of the new 300-bed residence hall at Broadway and Henderson added the need for about 150 to 180 residence parking spaces on the south end of campus, Mangels said. Additional parking also is needed in this area to accommodate events at the University Center, Wehking Alumni Center and Innovation Center. At the request of the University, the Southeast Missouri University Foundation purchased property at 239 Henderson and 1209 and 1215 Broadway across from the Henderson entry gateway. In addition, she said, the Foundation purchased 834 and 900 Broadway, adjacent to the Innovation Center parking lot, and parking lots on the east side of Pacific Street.

Mangels said the first phase of the project also will include the demolition of two buildings on the west side of Pacific Street at the Innovation Center parking lot and the razing of three structures on the east side of Pacific Street at this location. While the original proposal called for graveling the razed areas at Pacific and Broadway, the Regents instead recommended grading and paving the lots on the northwest corner of this intersection. These properties will be reconfigured and paved this summer, resulting in 82 new parking spaces, under action taken by the Board today.

Because paving this area will increase the cost of the project, the Regents amended the original proposal concerning the northeast corner of that intersection. The Board recommended that after the lots on the east side of Pacific are razed, those properties should be seeded as green space. The properties on the northeast corner, the Regents said, could be converted to parking at a later date as the need arises and funding becomes available.

Total revised cost of the first phase of the parking development project, including paving the northwest corner of Broadway and Pacific, is $2.1 million. Bond proceeds of $1.9 million will be matched with $200,000 from the parking and transit auxiliary to fund this project, she said. The project is expected to be bid in mid-May with substantial completion scheduled for August 2009.

Mangels said the Board of Regents in February 2008 approved $10 million of System Facilities capital improvement projects from proceeds of a 2008 bond issue. These projects included the acquisition and demolition of property along Broadway and Pacific streets and the construction of parking areas to meet needs on the south end of campus.